The official start of a new year....for me at least

For me the new year never seems to officially start until the kids go back to school. I know...it's a bit odd. This year what make it really odd is that the kids didn't go back until today so that leaves 8 days kind of in year limbo...they still felt like 2011 to me. Anyway, we are back at it here at our house although my kids have definitely had a begrudging attitude towards the return of school. One I think is, in fact, in denial. She got home from school and wanted to immediately start watching a movie series that we hadn't quite gotten concluded before the start of school. Somehow she forgot that she has homework, a flute to practice, AWANA verses to review, and a girl scout meeting tonight. And leave it to my boys to decide that the one day that they are going to start actually sleeping in is the first day back to school. Everyone was moving a bit slow this morning and seemed to be in quite a fog. Fortunately, I could move slow. I had only one child to babysit today and she didn't come until 8:30.

I've added another full-time client and one of my part-time clients has gone full-time so come the end of February I will be full. Yeah! Such a blessing from the Lord. I haven't advertised and now I have a waiting list. Looking forward to seeing God's mercy every morning in this coming year. He is so good.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I didn't stay up to see the New Year in this year. Honestly, it didn't even cross my mind to stay up and say hello at 12:01am. I realized the next day that I didn't even consider it. We were at my in-laws celebrating a wonderful and rare Christmas in which all the Horn children were in Indiana. I think we figured out that it had been five years. One of Joe's siblings lives in Asia so it is indeed a rare event. We returned yesterday and I woke up this morning in full organizational mode as the count down to the end of Christmas break has begun at our house. (This should be in no way compared to the count down to the beginning of Christmas break...not nearly as fun.) I started with my lists around 7:30 this morning. (My husband got up with the kids this morning and let me sleep in. He is so. awesome!). I got kind of nutty with my lists. I figured I was close to crossing the line into crazy list lady when I thought about making a list to organize my lists so I didn't. I just kept them organized in my head. This evening I feel very accomplished as there have been many things crossed off the lists. I think the kids got everything crossed off of theirs. (I certainly can't leave them out of list mania.) If I had put "read The Help" (my mother-in-law let me borrow her copy) and "take a nap" on my list I would be feeling even more accomplished. Wow, that nap felt really good. And to put a cherry on top of an already great day, my husband is out with my grocery list doing my shopping. He is so. awesome!

Duct Tape? Really? Who knew...

So I headed off to the doctor's office this morning to have some warts removed off my foot. Ashley has an appointment this afternoon to have one taken off her foot as well. But wait, before you judge, this is not due to my housekeeping skills. According to an extensive conversation I had with my doctor this morning (because what else is better to do on a Friday morning than talk to your doctor about warts and I needed a diversion between the freezings) most people are carrying the wart virus in their bodies. The virus actually resides in your spinal column (ahhh?!) and the warts emerge when you are under stress or your immune system is compromised. Then they hang out for awhile and eventually they do go away by themselves (my doctor did say you may have to wait several years...)

Now if you don't want to wait 40 years for them to disappear, you can have them frozen off like I did this morning. Or you can use duct tape. You might be saying "What? Duct tape? Seriously?". Yep...it is what my doctor recommends. You place the duct tape over the wart in the evening, sleep with it on, and then remove it the next morning. If you can tolerate it, put another piece of duct tape on it in the morning and remove it at night. It creates a skin irritation and eventually your body gets the message that there is something up with that area of skin and your immune system goes to work on the work.

So now that you know all about warts....Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend saying goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012.

my strong will power

So I am sitting here in my PJs at 8:15 this morning enjoying my grapefruit. I don't really need to be anywhere today so I'm thinking about just staying in them. They are comfortable and warm...both a priority for Christmas break. I was thinking through my accomplishments of the last week or so and there is one accomplishment that stands out above and beyond the rest. On Monday I didn't eat one cookie! This was quite an accomplishment since over the last month I have lost track of how many dozens of cookies I have made. We are (well, were...I disposed of them this morning) completely surrounded by cookies. So the fact that I didn't have one on Monday is HUGE. I'm sure it was all will power on my part that kept me from the cookies. I am sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I wasn't home most of the day. Nope....definitely my strong will power...

Sights and Sounds...A Merry Open House

The sound of Christmas music, happy greetings, laughter, children's squeals and the sights of smiles, delicious food, and smiles all around were in my house yesterday. We had our annual open house and it was a great success. As usual, we have no idea exactly how many came through the doors, but we are guessing close to 100. On the menu for this year was fried turkey, pasta salad, bean salad and too many sweet yummies to count. A couple of things distinguished this year's from past years'. First we held it on a Sunday afternoon instead of in the evening. Second, it was 50 degrees outside! No one had to trudge through the snow and the kids were able to play outside. I know my kids certainly appreciated that latter fact. It was so fun to celebrate Christ's birth with our church family and friends.

Sights and Sounds...cans, basketballs, and cooking away

Our Saturday began early for most of us. Sara was at her friend's sleepover celebrating a birthday so I don't think her's started as early as our did. The rest of us headed over to the high school and helped sort and fill baskets of food for the community needs agency. The kids collect cans every year through a competition they have a school, but we've never been able to make it over to help out with distribution. We had a great time and it was good for the kids to see where all the cans end up.

The next step to our crazy day, which was made more interesting by being down to one vehicle and it happens to be the one that cannot hold all of us, was for Ashley and I to head over to her last basketball game of this session. We are so proud of her perseverance. This was her first time playing basketball and it took her a bit to be comfortable during the game. But she hit her first basket last week and her confidence soared. She finished out the session today by hitting four baskets and one of them was off of a steal. Her coach said that she was her most improved player on the session. She has another session from January - March.

After Joe ran the errands and pick us up from the ballgame the cooking/baking fest began at our house. Our annual Merry Open House is tomorrow afternoon and we did fried turkey this year. So now the four turkeys are fried, the cookies and candies are ready to go and let the party begin tomorrow afternoon!

Sights and Sounds...tears in my eyes...

My beloved John brought home his December journal from school today. A friend of mine who works in his class at school got to read this particular journal entry the day he wrote it and mentioned to me to be looking for a special one. The instructions were "December is the month for giving gifts. Write about a gift that you would like to give to a special person." His entry is very special indeed:

"I have a very special present for my Mom and Dad. This year I will give my parents my love. Love is one of the most special presents. It comes not in paper, but from the heart. I love my parents so much."

Sights and Sounds...Santa

Santa, Bass Pro Shop, Christmas lights, Christmas music, ohs & aws...these were the sights and sounds around here last night. We visited Santa Clause at Bass Pro Shop's Santa's Wonderland last night and had an AWESOME time. I highly recommend it to anyone who lives near us or a Bass Pro. So easy and a free picture.... Even Sara, who decided that she was too old to sit on Santa's lap, thought it was cool. I loved the kid in front of us who had to be at least 9. He presented his written list to Santa and the two of them had a very serious discussion. Reminded me of Ralphie from A Christmas Story...wonder if a Red Rider BeeBee Gun was on his list. On my kids' list...a wrist watch, a Colts helmet and Colts pants, a scooter, gum that will fill our house (any guesses on that one??!!). After Santa we headed over to a nearby Christmas light display that amazes me each year. Quote of the night came from one of my boys. In looking at one of the dinosaurs, I commented.."I wonder how they did that." My son responded "Well, I think they take a wire and attach lights to it. Then they plug the wire in." Thanks son...

Sights and Sounds of the Season at the Horns

Well, it has been a flurry of activity around our house, but not as much as in the past. I honestly cut out a lot of the "minor" things that we would do each December and have been amazed at how just doing that has calmed me. I thought I would fill you in with the activities in the form of "sights and sounds".

The first sound I will share is the sound of discussions about "going to Pearce". Pearce is our local community center that we absolutely love. Ashley's basketball program that she is currently in takes place at Pearce. (BTW, she made her first two baskets this past Saturday at her game. I knew once I could convince her to shoot it, that she would start making some. Her confidence is slowly building and once it is up she may be a decent basketball player. Ahh, Hoosier blood...) Anyway, Pearce is also where we go work out. Joe is nearing the end of the weight loss competition he has been in the last 6 months or so. He is very close to "being in the money" (the top three). Pearce also has an indoor pool that we will probably dip into over Christmas break. You will also hear groans associated with Pearce....or the lack of getting to go in my life. I am feeling so much better, but can't seem to convince my body that exercise is okay again. Right after Thanksgiving I went for a two mile run after having a break since July. It felt so. good. to run again. I never thought I would miss it the way I do. Unfortunately, I felt worse than I had felt in probably a month for the next couple of days after I ran. So I am trying to take it slow. I hopped on the treadmill again today and attempted to just walk, but it is just so tempting to pick up the speed when it feels good when you do it. It helped that Joe was with me this time to remind me not to overdue it. I walked about 2 miles (ran for about 1/4 of a mile) and felt much better when I got off this time. I am trying to be patient, but patience has never been one of my best attributes...

30 Days of Thankful--Day 30

I am so thankful for my husband Joe Horn. He honors me in all he does. He cares for me so well. And he visibly loves me without words (and with words!) I am truly blessed to have this man as the gift of my husband.